You can start to know if you are pregnant as soon as a few days before your expected period with early pregnancy tests that detect the hormone hCG in your urine, which can appear around 7-9 days after ovulation. Most home pregnancy tests are 99% accurate from the day of your expected period or the day of a missed period. Some very early signs of pregnancy can appear within 4 days after ovulation, but they may not be clear or reliable until later when you miss your period and confirm with a test.
When to take a pregnancy test
- Early pregnancy tests like Clearblue can sometimes detect pregnancy as early as 6 days before a missed period (about 5 days before expected period) but testing too early might give a false negative.
- The best time for accurate results is from the day your period is due or after you have missed it.
- Testing with the first urine of the day is recommended if testing early due to higher concentration of hCG.
Early symptoms to watch for
- Missed period is the most notable sign, especially if you have regular cycles.
- Other early signs include tender or sore breasts, nausea, fatigue, increased urination, and changes in taste or smell.
- Some women notice mild symptoms as early as 4 days post-ovulation but confirmation requires a test.
Overall, the soonest reliable way to know is by using an early detection pregnancy test around the time of your missed period or shortly thereafter, combined with noticing early symptoms.